Although it was the St. Louis Center 25th Memorial Golf Outing – held each year in remembrance of a loyal supporter of the Sylvan Township residential facility – members of the 16 teams of golfers were all smiles as they teed off on July 14 at Pierce Lake Golf Course in Chelsea.
The St Louis Center is a facility for intellectually and developmentally disabled youth and adults, and this year’s event was played in remembrance of Therese Doll, of Sylvan Township, who died June 6, 2009, at 81 years old.
“It’s an honor to be out here remembering my mother,” said Larry Doll, chairmen of the center’s Community Advisory Council, before he teed off with Bob Fitzpatrick of Jackson, Rich Stasiak of Chelsea, and Daniel Dancer of Stockbridge.
“She loved to go out for walks and that’s my idea of golf, taking a walk,” Doll said with a chuckle.
Therese Doll “was a great friend to many, and especially to St. Louis Center,” her husband, Don Doll, said in the golf outing booklet.
“Not only did she attend many events with me over the years, but also she volunteered her time to help with the mailings and stuffing envelopes, and she baked many key lime pies for Fr. Joseph,” he said.
Each golfer paid $90 to play in the outing that was moved from Jackson to the Chelsea golf course about eight years ago said Joe Yekulis, director of public relations for the center.
It’s one of four charity golf outings held each year to benefit the center, Yekulis said. “This is an affordable local tournament, which honors a benefactor who has been involved in the center for many years.”
Here’s a list of some of those remembered during part outings:
- 2001: Kevin George
- 2002 and 2003: Robert Fitzgibbons
- 2004: Barbara Phelps
- 2005: Jerry Gondek
- 2006: Herman Koenn
Before the golfers headed out on the course. - 2007: Lloyd Bridges
- 2008: Martin Merkel
- 2009: Susan Starkey
- 2010: Robert Gorse
- 2011: Hal and Peg Pennington
“Therese was a close friend to the St. Louis Center,” said Fr. Enzo Addari in his opening remarks and prayer before the golfers hopped in their carts to tee-off, ending with “Let us golf.”
A dinner and awards ceremony was planned once all the golfers returned to the clubhouse.
The St. Louis Center is located at 16195 Old U.S.-12. For more information, go to the center’s Website.
